Special Interest Groups

This Advocacy SIG is open to all NDEO members interested in dance education advocacy. We are dedicated to building a powerful and informed community of advocates for dance education.

NDEO's Dance & Equity SIG is designed for members of NDEO looking to critically investigate and address the issues impacting diversity in dance in relationship to - race, culture, socio-economic status, and access. If you are inspired to join the conversation exploring these issues please join.

The SIG consists of dance educators who serve dancers with various abilities. We discuss and act upon the issues facing the field and exchange philosophy and different methods of teaching.

Welcome to the Dance Entry Level Teacher Assessment SIG where issues concerning dance teacher preparation can be shared and discussed. Topics of interest can range from standards-based teaching practices stemming DELTA’s Conceptual Framework, data-driven programmatic evaluation, and teacher preparation course development, to using the DELTA exam and OPDI DELTA coursework as diagnostic tools. You can email a question or post information to this forum at DELTA.forum@ndeo.net.

The Early Childhood SIG is comprised of NDEO members who are dance educators teaching ages 0-5 in all venues, or educators/administrators interested in dance for early childhood.

The SIG consists of postsecondary educators who identify and discuss practical issues concerning higher education and how NDEO members can facilitate action plans when needed.

Building upon the Plenary Session and Town Hall meeting from the 2018 NDEO annual conference (entitled "When the Dance World is a Hostile Workplace"), this new Special Interest Group (SIG) seeks to examine ways to improve the working environment for dancers, dance teachers, and choreographers. Using material culled from unions and non-profit organizations for artists, as well as some scholarship in this area, we will first establish resources available to protect or improve the dance workplace regarding issues such as sexual abuse, harassment, racism, and/or power abuses from those in authority. Contributions from those attending are welcome and are a vital part of pooling our knowledge. Plans for how to build upon and disseminate this knowledge to the NDEO membership and beyond are discussed. Ideas for how to utilize the upcoming, online SIG on a regular basis are also shared.

The K-12 SIG is a meeting, networking, and sharing group of K-12 dance educators who use proven research-based and child-centered teaching practices.

Following the success of our first LGBTQIA+ meeting in June 2021, we will be hosting regular (virtual) meetings for NDEO members who identify as LGBTQIA+. Please use this forum to connect and grow this community within NDEO! You can post messages directly on the forum or send them to the forum by email at pride.forum@ndeo.net. Please Note: Although allyship and solidarity are valued and appreciated, this group is meant to benefit NDEO members who identify as LGBTQIA+ and build community among members. This is not intended as an educational space for allies and non-LGBTQIA+ individuals.

The Men in Dance SIG is for members interested in discussing issues related to men in dance.

The Performing Arts Organization SIG is for educators and administrators who work in the dance education department of a performing arts organization.

The Private Sector SIG discuss issues relevant to those working in and involved with private studios. We meet to share best practices on how to prepare our students for both performance and college.

The SIG exists to help those with needs for research in the dance education field. We receive input from other NDEO committees and aid them in answering their questions and implementing research.

For discussion about the corssovers and connections among dance education and somatic movement education and therapy. To include reflection on the special topics conference from June 2019 and envisioning future connections among the fields.

The SIG unites the students in NDEO and future leaders of the field. The group is open to all NDEO student members to discuss their interests and to explore their career options after graduation.